Securing a firearm at a Courthouse

[dougtoni]

Hello my fellow LEO's. I have a question that I cant find an answer too, so maybe you all can help out with. The question is I have a ccw thru work and carry 24/7. I know the law states that I cant carry in a courthouse. My county courthouse stopped securing ccw weapons. Is there a law that states that the courthouse has to provide a safe location for me to secure my firearm while im in the courthouse? Any help would be truly grateful. Thanks

[003]

please delete

[dougtoni]

My courthouse has always asked any ccw carrier to surrender and secure the weapon. No big deal, thats always been the rule. The courthouse has now said they are not securing personal weapons to do the liability issue. So what am I supost to do with my weapon when I go to court?
I would believe that there has got be to a law that states they have to secure my weapon to enter the courthouse.

[003]

please delete

[dougtoni]

Im a Correctional Officer for CDCR. Im a LEO while on duty. Off duty, we are private citizens. We are issued ccw's and I take advantage of it. Im sorry I didnt explain all that in the first post.

[oddjob]

Unless something has changed in the past few years the courts do not have to provide anything to secure weapons. Sac County courts won't do that for on-duty plainclothes LEO's going to court. They basically say securing it is your job. How and where is up to you.

[Ron-Solo]

The courts are not required to provide secure storage. Most LA county courts have gun lockers available, partially based on the insistence of the Sheriffs Department. I was on several committees during the transition to weapons screening in the late 90's and we were always telling them they needed lockers.

On duty officers are not required to surrender firearms when appearing on a work related case. If they are on a personal case or any case where they are a "party" to the action, they are not allowed to be armed. For example, you are being sued in civil court for an incident that occurred on duty. Whole you would be testifying or attending on duty, since you are a party to the action, you can not be armed.

Only specific federal officers are allowed to be armed in federal court, regardless of duty status.

[dougtoni]

So basically, if I cant bench my weapon in a locker and its agaisnt departmently policy to leave a firearm unattended in a vehicle, then that means im traveling unarmed to and from the courthouse. So then my constitional rights dont mean "jack" and jury duty becomes priority then. WOW!!! So if I refuse to leave my weapon at home and they wont bench my weapon, then how am I supost to enter the courthouse and do my duty?

[Librarian]

So basically, if I cant bench my weapon in a locker and its agaisnt departmently policy to leave a firearm unattended in a vehicle, then that means im traveling unarmed to and from the courthouse. So then my constitional rights dont mean "jack" and jury duty becomes priority then. WOW!!! So if I refuse to leave my weapon at home and they wont bench my weapon, then how am I supost to enter the courthouse and do my duty?

Perhaps the way we who cannot get LTC do it.

Longer term, once we get sensible LTC issuance, the number of legal carriers may go up enough to make it politically 'correct' for the need for lockers to be addressed.

[AragornElessar86]

Perhaps the way we who cannot get LTC do it.

This.

[Jeepergeo]

So basically, if I cant bench my weapon in a locker and its agaisnt departmently policy to leave a firearm unattended in a vehicle, then that means im traveling unarmed to and from the courthouse. So then my constitional rights dont mean "jack" and jury duty becomes priority then. WOW!!! So if I refuse to leave my weapon at home and they wont bench my weapon, then how am I supost to enter the courthouse and do my duty?

Welcome to the daily dilemma faced by most law abiding, citizen taxpayers.

[Ron-Solo]

So basically, if I cant bench my weapon in a locker and its agaisnt departmently policy to leave a firearm unattended in a vehicle, then that means im traveling unarmed to and from the courthouse. So then my constitional rights dont mean "jack" and jury duty becomes priority then. WOW!!! So if I refuse to leave my weapon at home and they wont bench my weapon, then how am I supost to enter the courthouse and do my duty?

Complain to he Presiding Judge of the concerned county. They set local policy and control the purse strings.

One of my partners had that issue with San Bernardino County recently when going to traffic court with his minor child. He had to lock it in his car, which we never recommend.

[rolncode3]

If you're being paid to be at court, go in uniform. They (whichever court you're talking about) let on-duty, uniformed peace officers carry, right? Ours does - both traffic and superior.

[Ron-Solo]

If you're being paid to be at court, go in uniform. They (whichever court you're talking about) let on-duty, uniformed peace officers carry, right? Ours does - both traffic and superior.

I don't think he's talking about going on duty, since he referenced jury duty. Some counties don't exempt peace officers from jury duty.

[Spoilerv2]

If you're off duty and considered a private citizen then why would your agency's p&p come to play? Secure it in your trunk.